A NEW SPECIES OF LEIDOTRIGLA (PISCES, TRIGLIDAE) FROM THE KERMADEC ISLANDS OF THE SOUTH-PACIFIC

A new species of Lepidotrigla from the Kermadec Islands in New Zealand waters is described. This species differs from Lepidotrigla brachyopt era Hutton, the other New Zealand Lepidotrigla, in having smaller scal es (20 rows below the lateral line versus 10-11), more second dorsal a nd anal fin rays (D-2 Dorsal 16-18, mean 16.9 versus 15-17, mean 15.7 and Anal 16-18, mean 17.3 versus 16-18, mean 16.4), narrower interorbi tal width (5.3-6.0%SL, mean 5.6%SL versus 6.0-9.8%SL, mean 8.3%SL), an d shorter gill rakers (1.3-1.7%SL, mean 1.5%SL versus 2.0-2.7%SL, mean 2.3%SL). The two species are allopatric but appear to be more closely related to each other than to other congeners L. brachyoptera is rede scribed and compared with the new species.